Ma femme et moi étions en Floride début janvier lorsque nous apprîmes le décès de ma belle-mère. Emotions, désarrois, nous appelons Air France pour rentrer le soir même. Plus de place au tarif promo, évidemment, nous devons payer 1.885 Euros chacun, pour un aller-retour, moins cher qu'un aller simple, 2.100 Euros !
De retour à notre domicile, appelons l'AMEX pour emboursement, qui nous répond "Desolée, nous ne pouvons pas, vous auriez dû contacter notre service Assistance depuis la Floride, qui vous aurait fourni les 2 billets"
Dur, très dur.
Si telle nécéssité de retour anticipé ou autre gros problème vous tombe dessus, pensez bien à CONTACTER l'ASSISTANCE SUR PLACE.
Je vous tiendrai informés du suivi de la correspondance entamée avec cet organisme.
Ton histoire ne m'étonne malheureusement pas. Il faut absolument suivre les procédures ainsi que les cas de remboursements possibles qui sont stipulés dans leur contrat meme si parfois çà peut paraitre illogique (d' ailleurs c' est pareil pour Visa Premier).
Ma petite mésaventure (bien moins importante que la tienne) : un soir on se présente pour prendre un Marseille-Paris afin de partir de Roissy pour un long courrier. Mais on ne nous fait pas partir de Marseille car le vol a un tel retard qu' on manquerait la correspondance à Roissy. Le départ est repoussé de 24 heures. On décide de rentrer chez nous (pas trop loin) en taxi (50 euros). J' appelle Amex, espérant peut-etre le remboursement du taxi, mais c' est négatif. Par contre on nous dit que si on était resté à l' hotel (2 personnes) ils nous l' aurait remboursé ainsi que deux repas. Donc bien plus cher qu' un taxi...
D'abords toutes mes condoléances à toi et à ton épouse et beaucoup de courage dans ces moments difficiles .
Merci d'avoir apporté ce témoignage afin que peut-être cela n'arrive pas à l'un de nous dans l'avenir .
Merci aussi de nous tenir au courant de la suite
nos pensées vous accompagnent dans ces moments difficiles, merci à vous pour votre témoignage.
Nous avons fait appel à notre service assistance GMF car nous n'avions aucun numéro sur nous ERREUR à ne pas refaire. Dans l'excitation du départ tant attendu nous n'avions ni carte sécu ni tél N° assurances. Aujourd'hui notre seul recours est le bon vouloir de Vietnam Air line pour notre prochain départ en déc 06.
Nous croisons les doigts.
Cette fois-ci en vous lisant ce sera assurance VOYAGE.
Se donner les moyens de réussir son rêve... " Où que tu ailles, vas-y avec tout ton coeur". CONFUCIUS
Mon mari a eu un incident à l'aéroport CDG, le billet Mars/Paris étant entamé nous attendions notre vol pour Hanoï. Le fait d'avoir utilisé le 1er billet l'assurance annulation était terminé, donc nous ne confondrons plus annulation et voyage.
De plus, pas de n° d'appel sur nous donc appel auprès de notre assurance qui a pris en charge le rapatriement de mon mari (il a fallu que son état nécessite ma présence pour être aussi rapatrié, c'était dans le cadre de son assur auto) La carte visa c'est uniquement en cas d'incapacité ou décès. Puis notre assurance pour l'avion, si nous étions rentré par nous même sans l'avis du mèdecin, nous n'aurions rien obtenu ce qui semble être votre cas le remboursement ne se fait pas. Les assurances ont et font des contrats, il faut penser lors d'un voyage qu'en cas d'imprévus, c'est à eux qu'il faut d'abord penser, ne serait-ce pour un conseil pour les marches à suivre, et c'est eux qui font le nécessaire en fonction des contrats pris.
Pour le rapatriement des bagages, il fallait que je me débrouille, eux étaient partis au vietnam. Heureusement que AF les a perdus entre temps, finalement après plusieurs négociations auprès de leurs guichets (il fallait que je signale la perte à notre retour à Mars prévu à 20h le médecin nous accompagnait, avec l'ambulance qui attendait à l'arrivée, j'ai eu la chance en discutant avec la personne qui nous a apporté une chaise roulante pour mon mari elle nous a présenté au guichet bagage du même hall qui a effectué des recherches pendant plus d'1 h et a enfin retrouvé nos bagages. Elle m'a fait remplir tous les papiers pour ne pas avoir à l'effectuer à l'arrivée. Cela faisait 72h que je n'avais ni mangé ni dormi. Cette personne a trouvé inadmissible que l'on me renvoit au hall à perpète les oies. La pression au guichet est de plus en plus impressionnante et la formation de certains ou certaines devraient être doublée par une expérimentée et aguerrie. Aujourd'hui avec le recul, il est vrai que cette pauvre jeune fille au guichet était complètement paniquée et se préservait certainement derrière une carapace (les personnes avant moi n'en finissaient pas de raler car l'attente était trop longue et le manque de confort trop important. Je m'imagine à sa place, le soutien des expérimentés c'était visiblement au tél et elle répétait ce qu'elle entendait, il aurait suffit qu'on lui indique la marche à suivre pour qu'elle nous indique où aller. Sur place, l'on ne se rend pas compte.
Je l'ai trouvée hautaine au début et aujourd'hui je réalise que je me suis trompée, elle était paniquée par le stress des gens en file d'attente (20 pers en moyenne) qui ne trouvent aucun confort à ce hall.
L'attente pour le retour Arrivée à CDG 16h arrivée mars 20h le mèdecin qui nous accompagnait s'inquiétait plus pour essayer de me rassurer, il a du souffrir le martyr tant j'étais fatiguée, exaspérée et stressée. En plus, vous attendez que tout les passagers soient montés à bord pour pouvoir embarquer vous aussi... évidemmment l'attente se fait debout pour l'accompagnant qui lui n'a pas dormi ni mangé depuis son départ 3 à 4 jours auparavant. C'est là l'importance d'une assurance. je vais me renseigner si la carte premier prévoit le soutien pour ces moments difficiles et mon choix sera fait pour déc.
(le pire c'est qu'à chacun de mes voyages j'ai souscrit une assur voyage, là résa des billets et assurance annulation et voyage ça n'était pas pareil.)
Voilà si notre expérience peut profiter à d'autres dans leur choix, il vaut mieux prévoir et ne pas avoir à s'en servir.
Cela m'a servi pour mon prochain voyage,
1 soit j'essaie à nouveau Aéroport de Paris ou alors Francfort...
2 soit assurance voyage ou premier (je vais voir avec mon banquier et assur)
3 copie d'attestation prise en charge sécu
4 N° d'appels en cas d'urgence (assistance) j'ai trop galéré en plus avec les billets ou le circuit vous pouvez le demander mais lisez bien les modalités)
5 envoi par email sur ma boîte des papiers passeport, N° tous les n° y compris des séries de chèques voyage et du n° d'appel en cas de perte si vous partez en couple signature de la moitié par chacun important et les établir en euros car toutes les banques ne les reprennent pas s'ils sont dans une autre monnaie.
5 La valise n'a vraiment plus beaucoup d'importance.
6 Il faut que cela vous arrive pour en prendre vraiment conscience alors désormais sans ces conditions je ne partirai pas. Ce n'est pas de la parano mais tous les contrats perso ne suffisent pour un voyage il manque toujours quelque chose qui provoquera l'augmentation du stress de celui qui accompagne.
Se donner les moyens de réussir son rêve... " Où que tu ailles, vas-y avec tout ton coeur". CONFUCIUS
Pour toutes les assurances, il faut avant de prendre des decisions les appeler, mon mari venant d'avoir un très gros problème de santé au Sri Lanka, je peux vous dire que l'assurance de la carte Visa gold a très bien fonctionné. Dès qu'il a été mis dans un hopital gouvernemental (mourroir) j'ai appelé l'assurance, le jour même il a été transfére dans un très bon hopital à Colombo, puis après 10 jours transféré en France avec un médecin français venu nous chercher. nous ne nous sommes occupé de rien, et avons été très bien suivi, aussi bien sur le plan local, ils ont toujours un représentant, que depuis Paris qui nous a appelé régulierement. Quant au rapatriement, exemplaire tout a été prévu, et la chambre d'hopital en France était déjà réservé
Un seul conseil, avant toute décision les appeler et vous verrez que tout se passera bien
Dernière nouvelle, Vietnam airlines accepte de nous rembourser les billets.
Finalement après étude de notre dossier, avec notre agence de voyage, ils viennent de l'accepter. Un grand merci à eux.
Vivement que mon mari se rétablisse pour que nous puissions repartir au Vietnam.
Et cette fois-ci nous prendrons une assurance voyage et annulation.
Se donner les moyens de réussir son rêve... " Où que tu ailles, vas-y avec tout ton coeur". CONFUCIUS
Oy m'etant fait avale ma cb visa premier dans un distributeur a budapest, et malgre que je fasse toujours attention a retirer dans un atm d'une banque ouverte,…
De retour d'Inde après une bonne frayeur, je me pose une question... Que peuvent faire nos assurances rapatriement (comme europe assistance ou autre) lorsque…
J'ai pris un billet d'avion sur Opodo à ma maman pour qu'elle vienne me voir en Martinique, j'ai souscrit à l'assurance tous risques EUROP ASSISTANCE, car elle…
Vous avez du lire que j'ai du renoncer à mon voyage au Rajasthan que j'avais beaucoup préparé avec l' aide précieuse de ce forum!! Et bien, voici mes déboires…
J avais reserve un voyage au canarie que j ai dû annuler j ai payer une assurance pres de 120 euros tout de meme le contrat stipule le remboursement maxi dans…
Je me permet de partager cet article de blog qui, à mes yeux, pose un diagnostic d'une modernité absolue sur Hué qui n’est pas vue comme une relique mais comme une reine du style.
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...
Where’s Cape Vidal?
It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland).
It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks...
There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal.
That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is.
The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai...
They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive.
Anyway...
I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood...
The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded.
The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call!
So, if you’re camping there, be careful...
Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.
A white rental Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 carrying foreign tourists was attacked at the entrance of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in the village of Bekopaka, western Madagascar, yesterday. So far, there’s been no response from the central government to curb these repeated armed attacks—usually between Malagasy people, but this time targeting foreign tourists.
After an engine failure in mid-2016 on a long-haul flight from BRISBANE to LYON, I developed a persistent aviophobia that I’m struggling to shake off. It’s becoming more and more of a hindrance.
Up until now, I’ve been using an avoidance strategy (for example, avoiding destinations that would require any other mode of transport than a car or train), but lately, it’s become really limiting.
I’m looking for a therapist—either in-person or via video call—who could help me get past this hurdle.